Countdown to IUFB Kickoff: 80 Days (Ian Thomas)

Written by David Sugarman (@David_Sugarman2)

#80

We’re now 20 percent through with our countdown and starting to make a dent. With 80 days to go until the opener, we take a look at another tight end and a promising one. Indiana will be looking for much more tight end production in 2017 and Ian Thomas needs to be a vital part of that.

Ian Thomas (Senior)

Height: 6’5’’

Weight: 250 pounds

Hometown: Baltimore, Maryland

Position: Tight End 

We’ve touched on several tight ends in the countdown already, but after presumed starter Danny Friend, the other tight end Indiana will look to get significant contributions from is Ian Thomas. With size, potential and arriving to IU through a wave of adversity, Thomas could be a key contributor for the Hoosiers in 2017.

Thomas’ journey to Indiana wasn’t an easy one. Thomas lost both of his parents at a young age and grew up as one of nine children, raised by his older siblings since he was nine years old. With their guidance Thomas went on to play two years at Nassau Community College in Garden City, New York. It was there that Thomas starred to make a name for himself. After 2015 he was ranked the #2 JUCO tight end in the nation by ESPN. He snagged 23 passes for 433 yards and three touchdowns that year and led the Northeast Football Conference in yards per reception with nearly 19 yards per catch. After making the transition from JUCO to the Division I level, Thomas caught three balls for 28 yards for IU in 2016, including two catches for 26 yards in the Foster Farms Bowl. After a year in the cream and crimson, Thomas talked to Hoosier Huddle’s Sammy Jacobs during spring practice and said that this season is “harder than last year because the tight ends play a bigger role in this offense going from pass plays to run plays to pass plays”.

Thomas showed promise in the spring game, albeit it was the spring game, when he caught a 23-yard touchdown pass from Peyton Ramsey. Between his size and athleticism Thomas should prove to be a solid backup to Danny Friend this season. Like Friend, number 84 in our countdown, his production last year was limited, hauling in just three passes. Having said that, nobody is asking for a monster year out of the tight end position especially with the stars lined up at wide receiver like Nick Westbrook and Simmie Cobbs. If Thomas can be an occasional target in the red zone, serve as a good run blocker and be part of a decent tight end by committee group, the Hoosiers offense will look more versatile in 2017 than they did a year ago.

Share your thoughts or expectations for Ian Thomas, what you think his role will be and the rest of the tight ends in our comments section (or on the message boards) and be sure to come back to Hoosier Huddle each day during our countdown!

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